ARMENIA REVISES BRANDY, COGNAC PRODUCTION REGULATIONS

ARKA
Apr 2, 2009

YEREVAN, April 2. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Government revised Thursday
technical regulations of Armenian cognac, brandy, cognac alcohol and
raw vodka production.

The amendments are stipulated in the recently revised Law on Alcohol
Drinks from Grapes.

"According to former regulations, Armenian cognac, brandy and vodka
were made of 13 sorts of grapes that composed 80% of the products. By
the amended law, 17 sorts of grapes are to be used to cover 95% of
those drinks’ consistency," RA Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel
Avetisyan said, adding the changes would not affect the quality of
the drinks.

Armenia’s cognac output rose 13% year-on-year to 15mln 961,500 liters
in 2008, with 12mln 122,000 liters of vodka and liqueur being produced
in the same period (4.8% year-on-year drop compared).

Armenia’s champagne output dropped 19.8% to 464,400 liters last year,
compared to 578,700 liters in 2007. During the period under review,
beer output totaled 10mln 527,000 liters, compared to 11mln 631,400
liters in 2007 (9.5% year-on-year drop).